Suction-cup for milking-machines.



Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

G c 2 \k\\ G Q D 1 HH i I 1, MM y IH GHI G 0. A. MOLDENHAUBR.

SUCTION CUP FOR MILKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APB- 28,1913.

orzro A. MOLDENHAUER, or WATERTOWN, WIscoNsnv, ASSI GNOR r0 WISCONSIN SANITARY cow-mums 00., or WATER'IOWN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN.

SUCTION-CUP Foe MILKING-MAcHINEs.

Specification of Lettei's fizifent.

Patented Aug. 4', 1914.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known that I, ()1'10 A. Motors HA'UER, a citizen of the United States; residing at Watertown, county of Jefferson, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suction-Cups for Milking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in suction cups for milking machines, with especial reference to milking machines of the eneral type shown and described in my ormer Patent Number 887,212, dated May 12 1908. a

The object of this invention is to provide a form of construction in which the teat will be expanded during the suction interval instead of being compressed or constricted as is the case with the suction on s heretofore in common use. Also to provi e simple and eii'ective means whereby abnormal distention of and injury to th'e teat will be avoided. Also to provide simple and inexpensive means for adapting the cup for teats of various sizes, regard bein also had for sanitation and the number 0 parts to the device being therefore reduced to the minimum and so arranged that they can be readily separated and cleansed.

In the drawingsFigure I is a vertical sectional view of a on embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3 an 4 are detail vertical sectional views illustrating interchangeable teat engaging members.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The body A of my improved cup is provided with a removable upper section or mouth piece B, which is referably' screwed to the outer surface of tlib body A near its upper end. The body wall is provided with an exterior shoulder at C, above which the wall of the body is made comparatively thin and provided with one or more perforations D communicating between the interior of the cup and the annular space fornled be tween this thinner portion of the wall and the removable section B. At thenpper margm of the bod wall,- itis prov idea with an interned flange E.-

A collar F, provided with u wmuy turned flange G att'top and bottom; receives a flexible lining member H which preferably co'fnptises a piece of rubber tubing inserted through the collar F and having its ends bent outwardly and engaged over the flanges G,- as shown, whereby the tubing is held in posltion upon the collar by its own resiliency; The tubin is normally of less diameter than the diameter of the collar F, so that its central portion bulges in'wa'rdly from the coilalr, leaving a cavity H between it and the collar. The collar is provided with apertures F, which eor'nmun'icate be tween the cavity H and the cavity G between the collar and the annular wall of the member B. At its upper end, the section B is provided with an inturried flange B which serves as a clamping member for the collar F, a washer I being preferably interposed in a position to bear upon that portion of the rubber lining member H which is also interposed between the flange B and the collar F. A suction tube J leads outwardly and preferably downwardly from the cavity G through the wall of the section B of the cup, and a flexible hose pipe K will be connected to the lower erid of the member d, the suction being applied through the hose and the milk being also withdrawn there through. I

Vith the above described construction, a piilsating or intermittent suction may be applied by means similar to that shown and described in My above mentioned former patent, but with a different efl'ect within the cup. Owing to the fact that in my improved cup' the bottom is closed and the subtion applied to the interior of the cup through the holes D, it is obvious that the cup will first fill with milk at least to the level of the holes D. During the suction interval, the vacuum will be most pronounced in the cavities G and H. The walls of the flexible te'a't engaging member H will thereupon the teat and allowing it to expand as] p a free passage of milk through the. milk lieved, the wall H moves inwardly and 'applies a gentle pressure annularly to the up-- per portion of the teat which also tends to expel the milk therefrom.

To adapt the device for teats of dlfifllfillt sizes, I employ interchangeable collars F, f and f, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. These collars are all exactly alike except that they are of diiferent-diameters and are provided with flanges G, g and g ofdifi'erentwidths. The circular outer margins of the flanges G, g and g are all substantially the same diameter so that any one of these collars may be clamped between the fiangesB and E. To substitute one collar for another, therefore, it is merely necessary to unscrew the section B from the body section A of the cup, remove the collar F from the section B, and insert a collar of diflerent diameter, each of said collars bein provided with a flexible compression mem loer H, as above-described. The sections A and B will then be again screwed together until the substitute collar is securely clamped in osition with Suficient pressure to render the same air tight at the joints, the member H serving as a packing where it extends over the surfaces of the collar flanges.

It will be observed thatthe milk must pass through the holes D into the cavity Gin order to reach the outlet duct J. It is therefore obvious that the degree'of vacuum will be greater in the cavities G andHi than it is in the interior of the cup. The difi'erenoe in the degree of vacuum established in these cavities and that established in the cup will depend largely upon the relative capacity of the holes D and that oi thesuction tube or duct J. But even if the holes D are large,

the vacuum will still be greatest in the cavities G and H, and will be established first in those cavities when the suction is ap lied.

The cu being full of milk, there will 9 no tendency to expand the lower portion of the teat and very little tendenc todraw it downwardly into the cup, a though there will, of course, be a slight downward pull. In this respect, my invention difiers from all ordinary suction cups in which there is a strong downward pull exerted upon the teat which frequently draws it into the outlet and causes serious injur Owing to the fact that the vacuum is rst established in the cavities G and H, it is obvious that the annular pressure of the member H upon the teat will be relieved before the suction is applied within the cup through the holes D.

ll claim- ---v f ,I 1. A closed bottom suction cup for milk mg machines, havinga flexible teat engag- 1ng annulus in its up er portion, the upper and lower margins 0 which are expanded outwardly and secured to the cup, said .cup

having an outlet in its upper portion and o having a suction cavity'exterior to said annulus adordin communication between the outlet and the ower portion of the cup.

2.- A suction cup for milking machines,

having a collar removably secured in its upper end portion, and a flexible teat engaging member extending through the collar, with its ends expanded outwardly and secured thereto,said cup being closed in its bottom portion and having a suction outlet leadingl from its upper portion.

3. T c combination with a suction cup for milking machines, having a closed bottom portion, of a set of removable teat engaging members of diiierent diameters, each comprising a rigid annular support adapted to e secured to said on and a flexible wall of less diameter exten ing therethrough and having its ends expanded and secured to said suppbrt. I

4. The combinatiouwith a suction cup for milking machines, having a closed bottom portion, of a set of removableteat engaging member of different diameters,.each com.*

prising a rigid annular support adapted to. secured to, said on and a fiexible wall of less diameter. exten ing therethrough and having its ends expanded and secured to said support, together Withmeansjor applying suction to said cup at a point exterior to said flexible wall. v I 5. A suction cu for milking machines comprising a set 0 sections and closed at its lower end, the upper section having a suction outlet, and a teat engaging member within the u per section adapted to expand when action is applied at the outlet.

6. A suction cup closed in its bottom portion: and rovided with an outlet near its upper en said cup having an expansible member in its upper portion adapted to enwall for said cavity, the wall of said cup,

below the lining wall, provided with apertures leading into said cavity and so proortioned, to'the outlet a to secure a greater degree of vacuum in the cavity than in the body of the cup. I

8. A suction cup provided with a teat compressing annulus 'in its upper portion,

having its upper and lower margins secured to the cup, and means for expanding the central portion of said annulus radially-during the milk Withdrawing interval.

9. A suction cup having a tubular mem ber extending downwardly therein, and provided with a teat compressing annulus, and means for expanding the central portion of said annulus radially during a suction in- V terval,said cup being closed at its bottom 10 and rovided with a suction outlet above the lower end of said tubular member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OTTO A. MOLDENHAUER.

Witnesses:

Gusmv BUCHEIT, VWILLIAM C. KRUEGER. 

